Community and challenge - Year 9

A term of developing awareness

This term Year 9s completed different activities based around the year level them of ‘intercultural understanding’.   Early in the term all students headed out in groups to the following cultural sites or organisations:

• Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
• Darebin Intercultural Centre
• Islamic Museum
• Buddhist Temple
• Koorie Heritage Trust

The aim of this day was to increase intercultural understanding by learning about different cultural practices and beliefs and challenging stereotypes and prejudices.

It was a fantastic day and all groups reported back to their peers during a Tutorial lesson in the afternoon.

The Philanthropic Project continues on with this theme.  All Connect groups have decided on a topic relating to intercultural understanding that they would like to raise awareness of.  The students are working in small groups to do this and there are some very creative ways to raise awareness such as: a mini movie, a music video and an art piece.

Looking ahead: challenge and courage

City School :  As part of the Year 9 English curriculum, students construct a hypothesis and use their time in the city to research, interview experts and survey the public to explore their hypothesis. In addition, students complete a team challenge in the city on day 1 and also complete sessions at the Big Issue (exploring homelessness) and SynFM (a youth radio service) on days 2 & 3.

Camp :  A group of students will be getting back to nature at Lake Dewar Lodge.  There will be mountain biking, bushwalking, stand up paddle boarding and lots more!

Courage to Care:  All year 9’s will be part of an incursion run by ‘Courage to Care’. It  is a social acceptance and ‘upstander’ education program aiming to empower individuals to stand up against prejudice and discrimination in all forms.

Jane Lange

Head of Year 9